Oscar can become Chelsea great, claims Petr Cech

Oscar can become Chelsea great, claims Cech after Brazilian's masterclass

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UPDATED:

07:16 GMT, 21 September 2012

Petr Cech believes Oscar is already proving to be worth every penny of his 25million price tag as Chelsea's man of the moment looks to build on his sensational debut in Saturday's clash with Stoke.

Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo should confirm on Friday whether Brazil star Oscar is fit to start the club's Barclays Premier League game at Stamford Bridge after he limped out of Wednesday's Champions League game against Juventus.

Having his ankle trodden on by Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci – before watching his own team-mates squander their two-goal lead to draw 2-2 – soured what was otherwise a 'dream' first start for Chelsea for the 21-year-old, whose blistering brace made him an instant Stamford Bridge hero.

Sensational: Oscar scored twice on his full Chelsea debut against Juventus

With Daniel Sturridge ruled out of the game with a hamstring injury and Fernando Torres continuing to misfire, the Blues arguably need Oscar's goal threat again this weekend.

Goalkeeper Cech has seen plenty of young stars come and go during his eight years at the club but felt he might be witnessing something special in the shape of the 21-year-old.

'He has quite a big price tag on him for a young guy and he's under extra pressure,' said Cech.

'It's been great for him, obviously, his performance and two goals.

Pegged back: Oscar celebrates but Juventus improved to earn a point

'They will give him a lot of confidence and people will realise that he is really good value.

'He's settled in quite quickly and you can see he's really worth the money the club spent, obviously, now.

'So let's see how well he's going to develop over here.

'He has a pretty good set-up here too to become a great player.'

Cech also delivered a stinging rebuke to Chelsea's Champions League critics as he urged his team-mates not to play as if they have to prove themselves worthy European champions.

The keeper bristled at the mention of the outrageous fortune the club enjoyed en route to last season's triumph, bemoaning the fact Barcelona had little such criticism when they fluked a semi-final win over the Blues three years earlier.

'I don't think we have to prove anything to anybody, because we won the Champions League last year,' he said.

Beaten: Fabio Quagliarella sends the ball past Petr Cech for Juventus

'We have to play 13 games to win the Champions League. You might be lucky in one or two games, but that's normal.

'When we got knocked out by Barcelona, they were lucky to be in the final.

'Everybody said they played brilliant football and that they won the Champions League rightly because they beat Man United in the final.

'But they shouldn't have been in the final. Nobody talks about that.

'You have 13 games and everything can happen, and you have to go step by step. The knockout stage, last 16, quarter-finals, semis, and then win a final.